Dean Foods Company (NYSE: DF) has reduced its energy intensity by 10 percent or more at 18 manufacturing locations nationwide, meeting the requirements for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) “ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry,” the company says.

Dean Foods enrolled 72 of its plants in the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Challenge. Across the entire dairy industry, 148 dairy plants have taken the challenge.

The ENERGY STAR Challenge is a national call-to-action to improve energy efficiency of America’s commercial and industrial buildings. The U.S. manufacturing industry is responsible for nearly 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and spends almost $100 billion annually on energy. Under the umbrella of the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry, EPA is working with Dean Foods and other companies to fight climate change through improvements in energy efficiency.

“We are pleased to be part of the ENERGY STAR Challenge and very proud of the work we’ve done company-wide to help protect the environment by improving our energy performance,” said Gregg Tanner, Dean Foods Chief Executive Officer. “The recognition we’ve received from the EPA is a tangible way to demonstrate the progress we’re making toward our goals to reduce our environmental impact and operating costs – as well as improve our efficiency – by 2020.”

Dean Foods employed a number of tools to meet the challenge, including use of high-efficiency lighting and controls, solar heating and thermal recovery and re-use.